Cleveland: Planning your trip downtown for the Home Opener

CLEVELAND -- Check out what ODOT will be doing on the roads as you plan your trip downtown for the Indians' first homestand.

City of Cleveland

The city encourages the use of public transportation and car pooling to ease traffic congestion and recommends that people allow for extra travel time.

Parking will be restricted on East 9th Street between Carnegie and Superior, and on Prospect between East 14th and Ontario between the hours of 1 p.m. and 10 p.m., Monday

Signs will be posted indicating these restrictions.

City of Cleveland Traffic Bureau will have traffic controllers in place at key intersections to help improve traffic flow.

Parking at Gateway East Garage: The special event rate will be in effect and as such, monthly and daily customers will not have regular access. Monthly parking customers will be able to show their monthly pass at the East Entrance of the Lakefront Municipal Parking Lot (1500 S. Marginal) to access all day parking.

RTA provides bus service from the west end of Muni Lot to Public Square. RTA is increasing rail service to accommodate additional passengers for the Home Opener.

Bike to Progressive Field using the new bike lane on Lorain/Carnegie bridge and take advantage of new bike racks added to Gateway Plaza.

Updates will be provided via Twitter #TribeOpener.

ODOT lane restrictions

All ODOT work will be adjusted to accommodate major downtown events. The restrictions below are guidelines that may be adjusted as needed to prevent traffic congestion.

Monday through Friday, April 8-12: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ontario Street will have lane restrictions in both directions between E 14th Street and Carnegie Avenue. Motorists should be alert for equipment moving into and out of the work zone.

The ramp from I-90 east to Ontario Street will remain open, however traffic will be shifted from the normal location.

Monday through Thursday, April 8-11: Ontario Street will be closed between E 14th Street and Carnegie Avenue each evening between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next morning.

This work will also require nightly closures of the Ontario exit from I-90 east and the Ontario ramp to I-77 south.

Work will be coordinated to minimize disruption to downtown events.

Through Friday April 12 in Tremont: Fairfield Avenue will be closed under I-90. Motorists should use Kenilworth or Starkweather as a detour.

Cleveland Indians/RTA/Ohio City Inc./City of Cleveland

Offering a free shuttle from the Ohio City area to Progressive Field for Thursday night games and Friday and Saturday Indians games

The shuttle operates one hour before and one hour after each game, including on five Thursdays: April 11, April 18, May 30, August 8, September 19.

It also will operate on Opening Day, April 8, for two hours before the game and one hour after.

The shuttle picks up fans at the corner of West 25th Street and Market Avenue, near the West Side Market in the bustling Ohio City neighborhood, which features award-winning restaurants and eclectic shops. The shuttle then drops fans off near the Indians Team Shop and Gate D along Ontario Avenue.

In addition to the free shuttle, RTA offers convenient and affordable bus and rapid transit options from outlying points to downtown Cleveland. RTA's HealthLine connects University Circle to Public Square, while bus routes reach as far as Strongsville, Highland Heights and Beachwood.

RTA's Rapid connects inner-ring suburbs and downtown Cleveland, while free trolleys serve much of downtown. Plus, Great Lakes Brewing Company's "Fatty Wagon" -- named as such because it runs on the restaurant's vegetable oil --- also will operate for games Monday-Saturday.

Another option includes bicycling to the stadium: A new bike lane on the Lorain-Carnegie bridge -- which transports riders from Ohio City and parts west to the Gateway District -- has been completed, and bike racks have been installed on Gateway Plaza.

Parking

Parking in the Gateway East garage, adjacent to Progressive Field, remains $12 purchased in advance. Gameday parking, without an advance purchase, is available as space permits.

Fans can access much more information at Indians.com/planyourtrip, which features maps illustrating Gateway District parking options and incorporates public transit, alternative transport, and restaurant and hotel information provided by RTA, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Positively Cleveland and the Ohio Department of Transportation.